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Deciding where to reside in San Francisco is critical because, despite being one of the safest cities in the United States, there are certain neighborhoods you want to avoid. However, the hotel options in San Francisco are abundant, so there are always good choices to get the best location.
But be warned: don’t disregard that it’s also one of the most pricey cities in the entire country, even more so if you’re searching for lodging with parking in San Francisco.
With these factors in mind, we`ve classified the top lodging selections in San Francisco based on cost and location.
When we visited this gorgeous city after touring Yosemite National Park, we didn’t discover much advice concerning the preferred areas and hotels to lodge in San Francisco. Due to this, we’re offering you this post where we recommend the ideal neighborhoods to reside in San Francisco.
Also, if you’re taking a ten-day west coast USA journey and you’re traveling on a limited budget, we’ll recommend some of the most affordable lodging in San Francisco.
Best areas to stay in San Francisco
We aim to present you with the prime neighborhoods to lodge in San Francisco. Peruse the list and select the one most befitting your circumstances.
Additionally, you’ll see that in each neighborhood, we mention the hotels recommended in San Francisco to simplify your choice.
Union Square, best area to stay in San Francisco
Union Square is perhaps the most renowned neighborhood, since it’s the center of the city. This is a highly dynamic place, where you can attend numerous concerts and events throughout the year. It’s undoubtedly one of the prime locations to lodge in San Francisco, since it’s very connected by public transportation to all parts of the city.
There are numerous stores and shops present, such as Gucci, Versace, and the famous Macy’s. Additionally, it lies very near points of interest like the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and Grace Cathedral. If traveling to San Francisco around Christmas time, one would find the Christmas tree and ice rink located here.
If you want to sleep in downtown San Francisco to have everything close by, this is your best option.
These are the best lodging options in San Francisco if you want to stay in Union Square:
- Premium alternative: The Westin San Francisco on Union Square
- Basic choice: Hotel Union Square San Francisco
- Seaside Glass Villas, Kemi: Finland Northern Lights cabins offering amazing scenery.
Here are other accommodations in Union Square San Francisco.
Fisherman’s Wharf, one of the best neighborhoods to stay in SF
Fisherman’s Wharf is perhaps one of the most renowned neighborhoods in San Francisco since Pier 39 is located here (the original port later converted to a shopping center) as well as seafood eateries. Be sure to taste Dungeness Crab and bread bowl chowder when visiting.
This area serves as a suitable place to stay in San Francisco and allows for optimal viewing of sea lions. Furthermore, the hotel where we remained during our time in San Francisco is found here.
These are the recommended hotels in Fisherman’s Wharf:
- Premium option: San Francisco Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf
- Standard choice: Holiday Inn Fisherman’s Wharf (The hotel I stayed at in San Francisco)
- Cost effective choice: San Remo Hotel
Here are other accommodations in Fisherman`s Wharf San Francisco.
North Beach,one of the most popular places to sleep in San Francisco
North Beach is considered the ideal locale for many travelers to reside in San Francisco. This pleasant neighborhood, in close proximity to Chinatown and Fisherman’s Wharf, is viewed as the Little Italy of San Francisco owing to the sizable number of Italians who migrated to this area. The beautifully crafted Victorian apartments and duplexes merit observation (reconstructed in 1920, as a consequence of the massive earthquake of 1906).
If you’re a fan of Italian cuisine, this neighborhood might be the ideal place to stay in San Francisco for you. Here you’ll find ice cream shops and restaurants with a taste of Italy.
These are our recommended hotels that we found in North Beach from all those we examined:
- The parmesan and cheddar donuts, chickpea and sweet potato masala pie, and (vegan) Angel pâté from Niche
- Basic alternative: Washington Square Inn
- Cost effective choice: San Remo Hotel
- Kirkjufell Guesthouse and Apartments – we lodged here with our photographic expedition group
Marina District, the cheapest area to stay in San Francisco
You’ll likely recall seeing the famous Lombard Street in movies; it’s a road that zigzags down a steep slope. Every year, thousands of tourists come to photograph this street.
Also nearby, you can view the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, another of the must-see attractions in SF. Despite being very occupied, the Marina District offers some of the most affordable accommodations in San Francisco.
For individuals traveling with restricted budgets, search for lodging in San Francisco here. It’s also the best spot if you require booking a hotel with free parking in San Francisco. These are among my favorites:
- Premium option: Cow Hollow Inn and Suites
- Standard option: Hotel Del Sol, a Joie de Vivre Hotel
- Affordable option: Alpha Inn and Suites
Here are other lodging options in Marina District .
Nob Hill and Russian Hill, where the best hotels in San Francisco are
Nob Hill (also occasionally referred to as “Snob Hill”) is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the city, since many of the most affluent residents live here. Russian Hill is located to the north, and as is evident when visiting, it features an interesting hilly topography.
The two neighborhoods present good options for finding lodging in San Francisco, depending on your budget, of course. If discussing Nob Hill, staying in this area of San Francisco may mean consuming rice for a few days.
However, it’s worth it for the location; to the south is Union Square, to the east is Chinatown, and to the northwest is North Beach. That’s why you can find some of the best places to sleep in San Francisco here. I recommend the following according to your budget.
- Premium option: Stay at the Huntington Hotel for a spa getaway.
- Standard option: Nob Hill Inn
- Low-cost option: Cable Car Hotel
Here are other accommodations found in Nob Hill and Russian Hill.
SoMa. South of the Market, another neighborhood to stay in San Francisco
SoMa is a place full of old buildings that have been converted into art galleries, pubs, and true cultural centers. There are also quite a few quick meal restaurants and coffee shops.
Among the highlights here, don`t overlook Yerba Buena Gardens, a renowned park in this neighborhood. It`s worth exploring lodging in San Francisco in this area for this park alone.
An additional beneficial quality regarding lodging in SoMa is that you’ll be very conveniently situated, since transportation options here are very efficient. Therefore, generally, it’s a good area to rest in San Francisco. Here are some hotel selections I would recommend:
- Premium choice: The Park Central San Francisco
- Standard selection: Hampton Inn San Francisco
- Inexpensive choice: Sunnyside Hotel
Here are other lodging options in SoMa.
The Mission, a good option to sleep in San Francisco
The origin of this neighborhood’s name is a Catholic parish, The Mission, which is the oldest building in the city.
This locality is favored by Spanish speakers, as it is deemed the Latino cultural area. However, it caught our notice because of the massive graffiti covering the facades of the buildings. If affordability is the most critical factor for you, you`ll locate cheap lodging in San Francisco here. These are my recommended hotels:
- Standard option: Union Hotel
- Low-cost option: Hotel Sunrise
Regardless of the insurance choice, you will need to provide your medical coverage details into the Costa Rican Health Pass form.
Unlike the preceding one, this hotel presents a pool and a museum about the Navajo Nation. The price follows the quality of its rooms, but the potentials of last-minute vacancies are higher than at The View.
Haight-Ashbury and , coolest neighborhoods in San Francisco
Haight-Ashbury derives its name from the intersection of two roads, where you’ll find really old shops and colorful Victorian houses. If you like vintage style, it’s the area for you. No one can deny that it’s one of the best neighborhoods to lodge in San Francisco.
As for The Castro, it’s the gay neighborhood of San Francisco. If you’ve seen the film Milk (about Harvey Milk, who was a councilman and an activist), you know exactly what we’re talking about. His famous photography shop is here.
The following accommodations are a good choice if you’re interested in staying near these neighborhoods:
- Premium option: Stanyan Park Hotel
- Standard choice: Beck’s Motor Lodge
- Premium alternative: Nineteen 06 Mission
Here are other potential lodging options in Haight-Ashbury and The Castro.
San Francisco neighborhoods to avoid
There are times when it is not possible to lodge in the touristic regions of San Francisco, either due to expense or not booking your hotel in advance. If you are unable to stay in one of the premier hotels and areas to reside in San Francisco, at minimum ensure your safety. Confirm that your hotel is in a secure area to reside in San Francisco and avoid the following neighborhoods:
TENDERLOIN AND CIVIC CENTER
These two neighborhoods are areas where not to reside in San Francisco. In our experience, it’s very easy to enter them without realizing it, especially Tenderloin, since it’s very close to Union Square and just separated by a street.
Both this place and the Civic Center area contain many homeless people, drugs, and violence … certainly not a good place to sleep in San Francisco.
OAKLAND
Oakland is another of the areas to avoid in San Francisco. There are many tourists who make the mistake of staying here because it’s cheap and well connected with the center, but it’s very dangerous.
While the area contains thrift stores and delicious eateries (such as the Fentons ice cream shop), we do not suggest staying there due to safety concerns. In fact, some acquaintances were assaulted during their trips in this location.
Remember to acquire proper travel insurance for the USA. In addition to preventing problems if you experience theft, you’ll be covered against any medical expenses that may develop during the trip. Healthcare in the United States is so costly that visiting this country without buying insurance is too risky.
Best hotels in San Francisco
If the location doesn’t matter to you but you want to be certain of staying in quality hotels in San Francisco, we provide the best options. In case you’re traveling to San Francisco for a special occasion, to enjoy your honeymoon, or you just want to treat yourself, here are the top hotels in San Francisco. Of course, prepare your budget:
- Huntington Hotel: One of the most exclusive hotels in San Francisco (Nob Hill)
- The Ritz Carlton hotel: High-quality luxury accommodation located in Nob Hill, San Francisco
- Nob Hill Hotel: Hotel opened in 1906 with a refined style (Nob Hill)
- Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco: San Francisco’s most romantic hotel (Union Square)
- St. Regis San Francisco: Luxurious hotel in San Francisco with unlimited pool (SoMa)
Cheap accommodation in San Francisco
You’ve already seen that selecting the neighborhood carefully when wanting to travel safely is very important, instead of booking any cheap lodging in San Francisco you find. However, it’s also possible to locate where to stay in San Francisco without spending much and still be in a good neighborhood.
On the following list, you’ll discover the cheapest hotels in San Francisco that we recommend:
- HI San Francisco Downtown Hostel: Inexpensive hotel in San Francisco for backpackers (Union Square)
- Orange Village Hostel: Another good option for accommodation in SF (Union Square)
- Low-budget hotel option for couples in SoMa area:
- Village of the Northern Lights, Saariselkä: Glass cabins in Finland where the Aurora Borealis can be seen.
- San Remo Hotel: Affordable hotel in San Francisco (Fisherman’s Wharf)
Besides, you may be interested in our article on how to get affordable accommodations.
With all of these factors, you already possess what is needed to find the most suitable location to reside in San Francisco.
Map of the San Francisco Neighborhoods where to stay
You already possess all the information about where to reside in San Francisco. Additionally, we`ve included a map to help you locate the best areas and hotels to reside in San Francisco. I hope it proves helpful.
Finally, inform us if you have any inquiries about selecting lodging in San Francisco and, most importantly, enjoy yourself!